Flame spraying torch



May 3, 1966 L. c. BARR ETAL FLAME SPRAYING TORCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledDec. 5 1963 INVENTORS IEONABDL. BARB JOSEPHE mAs h 16A JOHN R BBODEBICJC7W5 E W ATTORNEYS FRE'DFBIC y 1966 L. c. BARR ETAL 3,249,262

FLAME SPRAYING TORCH Filed Dec. 5, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 LEONARD C. BARBJOSEPH F UAAS JOHN P BB DEBJCIC FREDERICK T. Pi [SH IE y 1966 L. c. BARRETAL 3,249,262

FLAME SPRAYING' TORCH Filed Dec. 5, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 F yif E s s ,s55,-

INVENTORS LEONARD C BABE JOSEPH P". QUAAS JOHN P. B/EODEZIGICZIQEDERIOIC 740%[5 36M 29 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,249,262 FLAMESPRAYING TORCH Leonard C. Barr, Upper Brookville, Glen Head, Joseph F.Quaas, Island Park, John P. Broderick, Bayside, and Frederick T.Wishnie, Seaford, N.Y., assignors to Eutectic Welding AlloysCorporation, Flushing, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 5,1963, Ser. No. 329,619 6 Claims. (Cl. 222-193) This application is acontinuation-in-part of prior copending application Ser. No. 314,763,filed'October 8, 1963, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a powder feeding device for a flame sprayingtorch, and it more particularly relates to powder container aspects ofsuch a device.

Powder containers for flame spraying torches which inject powder intothe emitted stream of burning gas to fuse them upon a surface generallyinclude an air opening into the container to prevent an internalreduction of pressure which might interfere with dispensing of thepowder. Such apertures are usually disposed in the end of the containerremote from its coupling to the torch, which end constitutesthe bottomof the container when it is removed from the torch for storage. Theseholes must therefore be sealed when the containers -are removed from thetorch to prevent spillage. They are also likely to spill powder when thetorch is being used in an orientation that disposes the container insubstantially horizontal and below horizontal dispositions. Howeverflame spraying torches with air inlet apertures into their powdercontainers usually cannot be used in orientations that cause the powderto flow away fro-m their outlets.

' An object of this invention is to provide a simple and economicalpowder feeding device for mounting upon a flame spraying torch thatdependably feeds powder without the necessity for any pressureequalizing air inlet opening into the powder container.

Another object is to provide such a device which helps to make thedispensing of powder more independent of container orientation.

In accordance with this invention the walls of the powder containermounted on a flame spraying torch and means that couple it thereto aresubstantially sealed to isolate the contents of the container from theatmosphere. A wall of the container is movably constructed to cause itto move inwardly when the internal pressure within the container isreduced by the dispensing of powder. Such movement minimizes thereduction of internal pressure to facilitate the exhaustion anddispensing of substantially all of the powder content into the powdersupplying channel without requiring a pressure equalizing aperture. Sucha movable wall may be elastic, resilient or collapsible with or withoutmovement accommodating bellows formations, or it might be a slidingouter wall. It might also be an elastic or resilient diaphragm withinthe container that separates it into sealed and powder containingchambers.

Bellows may be confined to the end of the container remote from thecoupling to maintain the portion ad- .jacent the coupling smooth forfacilitating the feeding 3,249,262 Patented May 3, 1966 ICC stantiallycomplete collapse of the container whereby the confinement of saidpowder within said neck regardless of orientation is promoted.

A sealed container with a movable outer wall that does not completelyaccommodate changes in internal pressure can be adapted for feeding frominverted portions by extending a tube from the powder supplying channelWithin the container adjacent the end remote from the outlet. Such acontainer is so independent of orientation that it can feed powder evenwhen completely inverted.

Novel features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the followingdescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings whereinsimilar reference characters refer to similar parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of one embodiment'of this invention partlybroken away in cross section;

FIG. 2 is a top-plan view of the powder container relative to thedisposition shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in elevation of the powder container shown in FIGS. 1and 2 removed from the torch;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the adjacent'portion of the container shown inFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top-plan view of the connecting area of the torch shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 5 along the line 66;

FIG. 7 is a view in elevation'of a portion of the embodiment shown inFIG. 1 when its internal pressure is reduced;

FIG. 8 is an inside-plan view of a cap for the container shown in FIGS.2-4;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 8 along the line9--9;

FIG. 10 is a view in elevation ofa powder container that constitutesanother embodiment of this invention;

FIG.,11 is a cross-sectional view taken through a powder feeding torchupon which the container shown in FIG. 10 is mounted in the form that itassumes upon a reduction in internal pressure; 1

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional View in elevation of still anotherembodiment of this invention;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are cross-sectional views in elevation of a furtherembodiment of this invention in different phases of operation;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view in elevation of still a furtherembodiment of this invention;

FIG. 16 is a view in elevation of a still further collapsible embodimentof this invention;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view in elevation taken through theembodiment shown in FIG. 16; and

FIG. 18 is a view in elevation of the internal collapsible portion ofthe embodiment shown in FIGS. 16 and 17.

In FIG. 1 is shown apowder feeding device 10 mounted upon a flamespraying torch 12 which injects powder 14 from container 16 into thestream 18 of burning gas emitted from torch 12. Powder 14 is injectedinto gas stream 18 by dispensing it from container 16 coupled toconnecting portion 20 of torch 12 in communication with powder supplyingchannel 22 that intersects longitudinal gas conducting passageway 24intorch 12. The flow of powder through channel 12 is controlled by a valve(not shown) actuated by lever 26.

As shown in FIGS. 1-6, container 16 is coupled to connector 20 by acoupling generally designated by arrow 28 in FIG. 1. Coupling 28includes bayonet lugs 30 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 on the neck 32 ofcontainer 16 engaged within slotted bayonet ring 34 disposed withinconnector 20 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Coupling 28 provides asubstantially air-tight seal. Connector 20 is secured upon torch 12 byscrew threads 35 that engage within corresponding internal screw threads36 within the body of torch 12.

Container 16 is made of an elastic and resilient material such aspolyethylene, and it is constructed to deform inwardly upon reduction ofinternal pressure as shown in FIG. 7. This condition occurs when powder14 is withdrawn from container 16 thereby reducing the internal pressurebelow atmospheric pressure. The upper portion of the side wall 40 ofcontainer 16 is made in the form of bellows 36 for facilitating theinward deformation or collapse of container 16. that is illustrated inFIG. 7 and the subsequent outward movement of walls 40 and rear end 38when pressure is equalized. Bellows 36 are confined to the portion ofthe container remote from coupling 28, and the portion of wall 40adjacent coupling 28 is maintained smooth to facilitate dispensing ofthe powder.

Asshown in ,FIG. 7, bellows 36 are compressed tightly upon each other,and the top end 38 and side wall 44 of container 16 are also slightlyinwardly deformed because of the exhaustion of powder therefrom causedby its entrainment into gas passageway 24 through powder supplyingchannel. 22. The inward deformation of the walls helps prevent areduction of pressure in container 16 to suchan extent that it permitsthe feeding of powder 14 into the gas stream before practically all ofit is used. The. need for any pressure equalizing aperture intocontainer 16 is thereby eliminated. However a slight air passage throughcoupling 28 will insure that all powder 14 can be dispensed freely. Sucha slight passage is disclosed and claimed in commonly assigned copendingUS. patent application Serial No. 309,502, filed September 17, 1963, nowabandoned. 1

FIG. 7 shows the condition that exists when practically all of powder 14is dispensed from container 16 during one feeding operation. Howeverusually not all of the powder content is dispensed during one operation,and the. pressure within the container is therefore restored before allof it is exhausted. This permits all of powder 14 within container 16 tobe dispensed. This recharging of the pressure within the container canbe accomplished through the heated tip 41 of torch 12, by tripping valvecontrol lever 26' when the gas supply is shut off, thereby minimizingthemoisture content in the recharging. air. This maintains the contentsof container 16 dry and prevents caking of the powder which wouldprevent its smooth and evendispensing. This powder feeding arrangementtherefore provides a controlled atmosphere for storage of the powderthat is not possible where an atmospheric pressure equalizing apertureis provided upon the container. A protective atmosphere such as nitrogengas can be maintained within container 16 even after repeated use, whichmight somewhat dilute it with air during the aforementioned rechargingbut not completely neutralize it.

i The appreciable inward deformation or collapse of container 16 alsofacilitates the confinement of the powder to the neck or outlet 32 ofthe container tosuch an extent that torch 12 can be oriented indispositions in which the longitudinal axis of powder container 16 issubstantially horizontally disposed. The lack of need for an equalizingaperture also avoids spillage of powder in such dispositions away fromthe vertical of the axis container 16.. It is also believed that therate of powder feed is increased by the substantially sealed containerof this invention over containers fully open to atmosphere because itminimizes air dilution to permit more powder to be fed per unit time.

In FIGS. 8 and 9 is shown a cap 42 for sealing the neck 32 of container16 when, as shown in FIG. 3, it is removed from torch 12. Cap 42includes a slotted bayonet aperture 44 for engaging bayonet lugs 30 onneck 32 of container 16. Tapered plug 46 within cap 42 closely engageswithin neck 32 to seal the contents of container 16 from the atmosphere.

In FIGS. 10 and 11 is shown a modified container 16A that incorporatesbellows 36A along the entire length of side wall 40A which is taperedinwardly toward neck 32A. Rear end 38A remote from neck 32A has aconcave form. In FIG. 11 container 16A is shown in the form into whichit collapses when it is mounted upon a torch 12A, which has dispensedmost of its contents. Container 16A is capable of substantially completecollapse with end 38A entering in between collapsed bellows 36A to pushthe small remaining amount of powder 14A within connecting area 36A oftorch 12A and into intimate contact with the entrance to powdersupplying channel 22A. Powder is accordingly efiiciently dispensed in asubstantially uphill direction, which is completely impossible fromprior fully vented powder feeding device.

In FIG. 12 is shown another embodiment 16B of this powder feedinginvention which is similar to that described in FIG. 1 with theexception that a tube 503 is inserted within the throat 52B of connectorZQB to permit device 1013 to dispense powder to torch 12B in theinvertedposition shown in FIG. 12.v A small recess 54B is disposed inthe entrance to throat 52B for receiving the end of tube 50B,- which isfor example made of polyethylene. Such a tube of proper size canalso bewedged securely into the curved entrance 54 to throat 52 of connector 20shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 12, end 56B of tube 50B remote from connector 20B isadjusted to be spaced a short distance from end 38B of container 16Bwhen it is in the fully compressed condition. Tube end 56B isaccordingly disposed approximately A; inch from container end wall 383when it is disposed in a partially compressed condition. Becausecontainer 16B is substantially completely sealed, powder 14B isentrained within tube 563 and moved upwardly against the force ofgravity into powder supplying channel 22B and dispensed intolongitudinal gas conducting passageway 243. A remarkably simple andeffective device for feeding powder from an inverted container istherefore provided.- This is quite remarkable in view of the previoussensitivity of prior powder feeding torches to gravity flow.

In FIGS. 13 and 14 is shown another embodiment 10C of this invention,which is capable of dispensing powder from any orientation includinginverted. Feeding device 10C incorporates container, 16C having aninternal elastic wall 56C which is for example a diaphragm of an elasticmaterial such as rubber or neoprene sealed to walls 40C of container16C. Diaphragm 56C divides container into a pressure chamber 58C and apowder containing chamber 60C. Although chamber 58C is referred to as apressure chamber, it might only be subjected to atmospheric pressuretrapped within it at the time of sealing diaphragm 56Cwithin container16C.

Device 10C operates to urge powder 14C into neck 32C of container 16Cregardless of orientation because as shown in FIG. 14 diaphragm 56Cexpands toward neck 320 as powder and pressure are withdrawn from powdercontaining chamber 60C. Diaphragm 56C might be elastic enough to extendcompletely through the exit of neck 32C when powder contents 14C areexhausted to force powder 14C into powder supplying channel 22C tomaintain it closely packed with powder at all times. Complete dispensingof the powder 14C is accordingly assured regardless of containerorientation. When diaphragm 56C is resilient, it snaps back into itsoriginal position shown in FIG. 13 when pressure is equalized. This canbe accomplished through the heated tip of the torch to minimize theamount of water vapor drawn into container 16C.

A partially full container 16C can be exhausted to the condition shownin FIG. 14 by inverting torch 12C and operating it until all air isexhausted and powder starts to flow into the emitted gas stream.

In FIG. 15 is shown another powder feeding device 10D in which movablewall 38D is a sliding end wall of container 16D that is sealed withincylindrical walls 40D by a sliding. seal 60D incorporating an annulargroove 62D.

Retaining ring 64D upon the end of wall 60D maintains sliding wall 38Dinserted within container 16D when it is filled with powder 14D.Container 16D and wall 38D may be made of a plastic material such aspolyethylene to facilitate their sealed sliding assembly. As powder 14Dis exhausted from container 16D, atmospheric pressure reacting upon theoutside of wall 38D forces it toward outlet neck 32D thereby maintainingpowder 14D in intimate contact with powder supplying channel'22D topromote the full exhaustion of all powder from container 16D regardlessof orientation. Since wall 38D does not move backward when pressures onboth of its sides equalize, no air is pulled into container 16D uponequalization of pressure. This maintains its contents protected fromatmospheric effects such as wetting andoxidation. The position of wall38D also indicates the amount of powder remaining in the containerwithout the necessity for having the walls transparent, and suchposition in conjunction ejecting flames therefrom, a powder injectionsection connected to said tip section, gas supply connecting means dercontainer and with said conduit whereby powder may flow from saidcontainer into said conduit, said container having a freely disposed endwall and a collapsible pewith suitable indicia 66D upon walls 40Dprecisely indicate how much powder remains for dispensing.

In FIGS. 16 and 17 is shown another powder feeding device 10E in whichthe movable wall 38B is provided by a collapsible plastic sac. Plasticsac 38B is inserted within container 16E including a substantially rigidtube 68]: engaged within outlet funnel 70E. Tube 68B is made for exampleof a substantially rigid plastic such as polystyrene or an acrylic,which might be transparent to permit the contents of container 16E to bedirectly observed. Plastic sac 38E, as shown in FIG. 18, is utilized asa storage container for powder 14E prior to usage as shown in FIG. 18. Aclip 72E seals the top of sac 38A prior to use.

Sac 38B is secured within container 16E by locking its open edge 71Ebetween flange 74E upon tube 68B and a corresponding lip 76E upon outletfunnel 70E. Outlet funnel 70B is secured to powder feeding section 12Eby screw threads 7 8E upon its discharge end. Outlet funnel 70E is madeof a resilient material such. as rubber or neoprene to facilitate thesnap fitting of the lower end 74E of tube 68E into and out of engagementwith lip 76E.

FIG. 17 shows the condition of container 16E'after a substantial amountof powder 14E has been discharged into the gas stream admitted to thetorch (not shown). Plastic sac 3813, for example made of inexpensivepolyethylene, has substantially collapsed to help urge the powder withinit into the discharge outlet 70E thereby helping insure that all powderis discharged from the container and minimizing the influence ofgravity. The arrangement shown in FIGS. 16-18 is somewhat similar to atype of baby nursing kit, but it is rather surprising that a type offeeding device intended for a liquid will prevent an undue reduction ofpressure within a powder feeding container. A metal powder is in no waycomparable to a liquid such as milk, and there was no disclosure ofsuggestion prior to this invention that a collapsible feeding sac wouldprevent an undue reduction in pressure within an alloy powder feedingcontainer of a flame spraying torch.

What is claimed is:

1. A flame spraying torch comprising a tip section for ripheral sidewall and pressure reduction means for contracting the peripheral sidewall of the powder container axially with portions of the contractingwall maintained spaced from opposite portions of said wall whereby flowof powder to the discharge end of said container from its axiallyopposite end is uninterrupted by the contracting action of said wall.

2. A torch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said powder container ismounted at an angle with respect to said powder injecting section.

3. A torch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said container is mountedunder said powder injecting section with its discharge end disposedabove the contracting wall.

4. A torch as set forth in claim 1 wherein a tube extends from theconnecting area of said container and said powder injecting section insealed communication with said powder supplying channel and extendinginto said container, and the end of said tube remote from saidconnecting area extending adjacent to said end wall of said containerremote from said connecting area for conducting powder therefrom intosaid powder supplying channel whereby said device dispenses said powderindependently of gravity.

5. A torch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said collapsible side wall isa resilient bellows formation.

6. A torch as set forth in claim 5 wherein said end wall of saidcontainer is concavely shaped.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,854,458 4/1932Quincy et al 222-386.5 X 2,649,995 8/1953 Muskin 222386.5 X 2,671,6893/1954 Wett 239 2,696,337 12/1954 Dinhofer 222215 X 2,738,107 4/ 1956Graham 222215 2,743,038 4/ 1956 Ferries 222215 X 2,781,154 2/1957Meredith 222-193 2,784,882 3/1957 Du Bois 222215 2,793,778 5/1957Maxwell 21511 2,899,110 8/1959 Parker 222--215 2,934,632 4/1960 Todd222193 X 2,965,268 12/ 1960 Bauerlein 222-193 3,143,429 8/ 1964 Swansonet al 222-215 X 3,155,281 11/1964 Stracey 222212 X LOUIS J. DEMBO,Primary Examiner.

1. A FLAME SPRAYING TORCH COMPRISING A TIP SECTION FOR EJECTING FLAMES THEREFROM, A POWDER INJECTION SECTION CONNECTED TO SAID TIP SECTION, GAS SUPPLY CONNECTING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID POWDER INJECTING SECTION, A GAS CONDUIT COMMUNICATING WITH SAID GAS SUPPLY CONNECTING MEANS AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID POWDER INJECTING SECTION AND THROUGH SAID TIP SECTION, A POWDER CONTAINER DETACHABLY MOUNTED UPON SAID POWDER INJECTION SECTION WHEREBY SAID CONTAINER MAY BE DETACHED AND UTILIZED FOR STORAGE OF POWDER, A POWDER PASSAGEWAY COMMUNICATING SAID POWDER CONTAINER AND WITH SAID CONDUIT WHEREBY POWDER MAY FLOW FROM SAID CONTAINER INTO SAID CONDUIT, SAID CONTAINER 